As fuel prices rise by 15%, ride-hailing drivers in Nigeria ask app companies to cut commission
Ride-hailing drivers are not enjoying the latest hike in fuel prices and hope app companies would reduce commissions to meet them halfway A new shockwave has greeted ride hailing drivers following the increase of the pump price of fuel in Lagos and Abuja. The price of fuel rose to ₦617 this morning in Abuja, while selling for ₦520 per litre in many parts of Lagos. Members of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transport Workers of Nigeria (AUATWON) told TechCabal that the fuel price hike has put them in a tough spot. A vice chairman of the union, Ifako-Ijaiye, David Ademola, told TechCabal that today’s increase will further eat into their margins. “Buying fuel at ₦500 per litre was not favourable before.” The Chairman of the media and publicity committee for the union, Comrade Jossy Olawale, said he was lucky to get fuel at ₦492 per litre in Egbeda, but worried that the increase in fuel would only complicate matters for e-hailing drivers. The Union’s argument is that while they have no control over fuel prices, they should be given a voice in determining the commission they pay to ride-hailing companies. The Union has been in a running battle to get the major ride-hailing companies to reduce their commission to 10%. Nigeria’s labour ministry dallies on recognising AUATWON Olawale and Ademola believe that the delay in Nigeria’s labour ministry recognising AUATWON as the representative body for their interests has not helped their cause. With the commission of 25% which they still have to remit to app companies like Uber and Bolt, another fuel price hike worsens their position. This is why Olawale has called for the Ministry of Labour and registrar of the trade unions to swiftly issue their certificate of registration. He also asked the ministry to ignore ride-hailing companies’ objections to the registration of the union. “The ministry should trash that petition and allow our name to stay. They should issue our certificate immediately,” he said. A possible solution ? As the drivers continue their relentless pursuit of a 10% commission to be remitted to the ride hailing firms, they also called on the federal government and state government to look at alternative means of fuelling their cars, particularly with the Compressed natural gas (CNG). “Our members can’t afford the cost of conversion but we are asking the government to support us in funding this conversion so that our members who are unemployed graduates that have taken this job can continue to earn legitimately. We are also aware of the palliatives of ₦500 billion in place. We want AUTAWON to be captured in this palliative,” Olawale added.
Read MoreNigeria’s answer to food inflation is a commodity board; here’s why it won’t work
To address the increasing food inflation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has proposed a National Commodity Board. A commodity board is not a novel idea, but it is a poor choice of weapon against the soaring prices of food in Nigeria. In Nigeria, food inflation is a problem that won’t go away. With 90% of the working population spending 60% of their income on food and related expenses, it’s been clear for a while that urgent action is needed. Recent numbers from the National Bureau of Statistics show that food prices are the biggest driver of Nigeria’s inflation figures. It has compelled the nation’s president President Bola Tinubu to declare an emergency in the country’s food sector. President Tinubu’s plan to reduce food prices has several prongs, one of which is the establishment of commodity boards. Commodity boards are not new in Nigeria. The country has set up boards for cash crops like palm produce, cotton, groundnut and even grains. Most of these boards were created to boost and regulate exports. Yet, they have often caused market distortions and incentivised corruption until they were eventually dissolved. Tinubu’s commodity board is supposed to rein in inflation, but there is nothing to suggest that it will be any different from the ones before it. The National Commodity Board may cause market distortion “In the past, the commodity board improved the rural economy and brought more revenue to the farmers, but it created a toxic imbalance in the market. Another board of that sort will do the same,” Tade*, a policy expert, said to TechCabal. Tinubu’s proposed commodity board aims to control the cost of food items and fix them at a price that will profit the farmer and still be affordable for the Nigerian consumer who is currently battling inflation. To ensure this, the board establishes a price floor, which is a minimum price at which the crop will be bought from farmers. In the past, the boards also directly buy the produce at the pre-determined price from the farmers on a regular basis. The problem is that many times this fixed price is divorced from the market reality, and in such cases, people will inevitable cut corners and create market distortion. A clear example is how the government inadvertently created a black market for dollars when it artificially pegged the rates below the real market reality. The same thing happened in the 1960s when groundnut producers resorted to selling their produce directly to foreign buyers willing to pay higher prices, bypassing the Northern Nigeria Marketing Board’s established price floor. “Market distortions can occur when the board’s fixed prices fail to adequately reflect supply and demand forces,” Tade pointed out. This creates disparities within the market and completely undermines the board’s intended price stability. The National Commodity Board will be another fiscal burden The implementation of a commodity board can also place a significant fiscal burden on the country. Considering the macroeconomic environment of the country, the fixed price of produce may be unaffordable to the majority of the population. Under these circumstances, the board would naturally create a subsidy for the produce, and sell them to the public at artificially lower prices than what it initially bought from the farmers. But Nigeria is not in a fiscal position to provide subsidies. Tade expressed concerns about and believes that any sort of food subsidy will nullify the fiscal gains of the recent fuel subsidy removal. Additionally, the board itself requires funding for essential infrastructure needed to store the produce and distribute it. It also needs to fund the several organisations that will be contributing to the board’s functions. These organizations may include the National Commodity Exchange (NCX), Seed Companies, National Seed Council, Research Institutes, NIRSAL Microfinance Bank, and Food Processing/Agricultural Processing associations. Each entity on the board may require financial resources for its operations, research activities, market infrastructure, and other essential functions. The allocation of funds to support the board’s activities can strain the government’s budget, especially considering other pressing socio-economic priorities. Corruption and inefficiencies Making this board a middleman between producers and consumers creates room for more corruption. There is nothing that shows that the new proposed board will be corruption-proof, and the last thing Nigeria needs is another leaking purse. In addition, other inefficiencies associated with government agencies such as delayed payments, and nepotism, can adversely affect the lives of farmers, and discourage private sector participation and innovation. Duplication of existing structures The Commodities Exchange is listed as one of the organisations that is going to be a part of the proposed board but they have very similar functions. Mr Akin Akeredolu-Ale, managing director and chief executive officer of the Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange said, “Reintroducing Commodity Boards back into the ecosystem will see duplication of functions. The existing structure required by the Commodity boards is already being implemented by the Commodities Exchanges.” Following the ban by the Federal Government on the direct purchase of farm produce by foreigners from farmers, producers have commodity exchanges to sell their goods at competitive prices. Would it not be better for the government to strengthen the infrastructure, expand market linkages, and improve the services offered by commodity exchanges? Tade thinks there are a plethora of other means the government can lower the prices of food. “On the import duties on produce like wheat can significantly reduce the cost of the things like pasta and bread which it is used to make,” he said.
Read MoreExperts predict another increase in interest rates as Nigeria’s inflation hits a 7-year high
The Central Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will hold its next meeting on July 24-25. Experts predict another increase in Nigeria’s interest rate in response to the country’s inflation which hit a seven-year high in June. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is likely to increase the country’s interest rate to tame rising inflation. Yesterday, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released the numbers for June 2023, and they don’t look good. Nigeria’s headline inflation hit a seven-year high of 22.79%, driven by a rise in the prices of food. The CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will hold its next meeting on July 24-25 to deliberate on interest rates. Experts who spoke to TechCabal predict that surging prices may force the apex bank to raise the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 18.5% to 19.5%. Basil Abia, a research and policy consultant, predicts that the CBN will raise the MPR by 100 basis points to 19.5%. “This decision is motivated not only by persistent inflation but also by external pressures from some Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPI) who want to see attractive market yields in Nigeria’s equity markets,” he told TechCabal. In the past year, CBN has employed the MPR as a tool to tackle Nigeria’s inflation rate which has ironically continued its uptrend. According to Bloomberg, the MPC has raised the rates by 700 basis points since May 2022. But experts have argued that Nigeria’s rising inflation can’t only be solved by raising MPR. Samuel Oyekanmi, a research analyst at Deloitte, said the current inflation is tied to supply and not demand. “The current inflation is driven by food supply shocks across the country due to the rise in fuel prices. Also, the unification of the exchange rate and naira devaluation have affected the cost of importation,” he told TechCabal. President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms—such as the removal of fuel subsidies, unification of the exchange rate, and naira devaluation—have triggered price increases in the country. Last week, he declared a state of emergency to address surging food prices. Food inflation was up by 25.25% on a year-on-year basis in June 2023, according to the NBS data. Where does this leave Nigerians? MPR is the benchmark interest rate in an economy. It is the rate at which the apex bank lends to commercial banks and often determines the cost of funds in the economy. So, increasing the MPR, while aiming to address inflation, would have some unintended negative consequences for the Nigerian economy. According to Abia, one such consequence is the restriction of credit availability within the banking system, which would limit the borrowing capacity of the private sector, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs). “This will put additional financial pressure on SMEs and consumers who are everyday Nigerians. This pressure will potentially lead to higher prices for goods and services, affecting the overall cost of living for individuals and the operational costs for businesses,” he added. Oyenkanmi shares a similar view. If interest rates are going up, some people might not be able to meet their debt obligations to the banks. “The CBN must considerate in their approach and take lessons from other countries of the world where banks were declared bankrupt because of multiple interest hikes by their various central banks,” he told TechCabal.
Read MoreThe next wave of innovation: Why US investors should look to francophone Africa
This guest post was contributed to TechCabal by Noel K. Tshiani. Noel K. Tshiani, founder of Congo Business Network, is convinced that American business angels and venture capital firms have promising investment opportunities at their fingertips: French-speaking Africa. He advocates for a smart partnership strategy that involves working with local organisations that have a deep understanding of the region’s unique business dynamics and access to a vast network of decision-makers in the public and private sectors in a specific country. That is how US investors can easily and confidently navigate any perceived cultural, risk, or language barriers and position themselves for profitable investments in this emerging continent. While Silicon Valley remains the heart of innovation and venture capital activities in the United States, a vibrant yet under-appreciated treasure trove of potential awaits discovery in another continent: the thriving tech ecosystems in francophone Africa. This region, which includes countries such as Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is home to rising tech ecosystems with immense potential. Despite its booming entrepreneurial spirit and thriving startup culture, the region remains little known and is often overlooked by American investors due to prevailing misconceptions and a few challenges that can be overcome with strategic partnerships. Let us start with the elephant in the room: the language barrier. Yes, English is the de facto language of international business, and it is true that Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa are English-speaking countries. But let us not forget that French is also a global language. According to the International Organisation of La Francophonie, it was estimated that there were 321 million French speakers in the world in 2022, of which 270 million are native speakers and 51 million are non-native speakers. As the fifth most spoken language worldwide, French is the recognised official language in 29 countries, a list that includes territories from Africa and Europe to the Americas, the Caribbean, and Australia. Yet, it is in Africa where French resonates most profoundly, having been adopted as the official language in 21 countries. Overcoming the language barrier is as simple as recognising the value of being bilingual in global business and encouraging linguistic diversity within investment teams in San Francisco and New York. Finding local partners can also help to bridge potential communication gaps. Second, a perceived lack of market data often deters investors. It is no secret that comprehensive market information can be harder to find in emerging markets. Rather than a barrier, however, this should be seen as an invitation to become a pioneering, hands-on investor. American investors have the resources and capabilities to conduct in-depth research, partner with local firms, seek advice from organisations such as Congo Business Network, and use new technologies to accurately assess the market. Another deterrent is the myth of political instability. While it is true that parts of Africa face political challenges, it is important to remember that Africa is not a monolith, but a continent of 54 different countries. Francophone Africa is made up of diverse nations, each with its own unique socio-political climate. Many countries in the region, such as Senegal and Gabon, have demonstrated steady economic growth and political stability. One real obstacle standing in the way is the issue of regulatory complexity. Multiple jurisdictions, each with its own set of rules, create a regulatory environment that can be difficult to navigate. The answer lies in partnering with local firms, business networks, and market entry consultants who understand the local landscape. While challenges exist, the reward potential of investing in francophone Africa is extraordinary. This region represents a reservoir of creativity and innovation, adept at addressing indigenous needs with unique, scalable tech solutions that have wider market adaptability from Kinshasa and Abidjan, to Dakar. The rise of successful startups like Wave Mobile Money and MFS Africa, two standout fintech companies operating in Senegal and the DRC, underscores this burgeoning potential. And as the world becomes increasingly digital, the region is ripe for disruption in various sectors, from fintech and agritech, to medtech. Coupled with a young, dynamic population eager to embrace technology advances, this is fertile ground for high-growth tech startups. Finally, let us not forget that challenges often signal untapped opportunities, whether in the US or Europe. Yes, investing in francophone Africa requires a pioneering spirit, patience, and commitment to overcome some of the perceived obstacles. But it is in such landscapes that the seeds of the most extraordinary venture capital firms can be planted for massive returns. My message to American business angels and venture capital firms is to broaden their horizons by exploring new territories. By engaging more deeply with francophone Africa, they can diversify their investment portfolios, boost global innovation, and contribute to transformative change in a region full of potential for tech startups. Let us embark on a journey of dispelling the myths and misconceptions that surround investing in francophone Africa, encouraging a fearless dive into this vibrant ecosystem ripe with opportunities, particularly in sectors like finance, education, and agriculture in the DRC, a country of 100 million people. The prospect of unearthing untapped growth potential is ripe for the picking. And, remember, tech startups in francophone Africa are not merely recipients but key contributors, brimming with innovative ideas and solutions. In the world of global investments, the road to francophone Africa is one worth exploring, for the rewards you stand to gain and the significant impact these thriving tech startups can make in our interconnected world of business.
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👨🏿🚀TechCabal Daily – Nigeria’s inflation is rising…and shining
In partnership with Share this newsletter: Lire en Français اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية Good morning Here’s your weekly reminder to move us to your main or primary inbox. Just drag and drop from Promotions, or right-click on our email and add us to Main. This way, you won’t miss our mails and we’ll be like MTN—everywhere you go! In today’s edition Twitter ignores laid-off Africa team SA ride-hailing drivers threaten shutdown Nigeria’s inflation breaks the ceiling Telkom plans to sell its towers The World Wide Web3 Event: The Moonshot Conference Opportunities Layoffs Twitter ignores laid-off African team Some members of Twitter team in Africa Seven months after being laid off from Twitter, the big tech’s African ex-team is yet to receive any severance from the company. ICYMI: In November/December 2022, Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover led to the firing of more than half of Twitter’s 8,000-strong workforce, including all members of its nascent African team. The team, headquartered in Ghana, had announced the launch of a new office a week prior to their layoffs. While teams across other continents received—in emails informing them of their layoffs—emails to the Twitter Africa team included no details on severance packages. All requests to the Twitter headquarters were also not responded to. At the time, CNN reported that the team was considering legal action against Twitter for violating Ghanaian labour laws. Seven months, no severance: Now, seven months later, BBC has confirmed that the team is yet to receive any severance. While lawyers representing the team were in contact with Twitter up until May 2023, they now report that Twitter has stopped responding, just right when discussions were almost concluded. The lawyers are now considering other options that could help the ex-Twitter Africa team get justice. Twitter’s dim picture: Across Europe and America, the same story is hitting several ex-employees at Twitter. Last week, in the US, the company was hit with a lawsuit that alleges it owes $500 million in severance payments to laid-off employees in the US. In more news about its money problems, the company was also hit with an eviction notice from its headquarters due to failure to pay rent. Last week, CTO Elon Musk revealed that the company had lost half of its advertising revenue since the takeover and is in “heavy debt”. Secure payments with Monnify Monnify has simplified how businesses accept payments to enable growth. We are trusted by Piggyvest, Buypower, Wakanow, Fairmoney, Cowrywise, and over 10,000 Nigerian businesses. Get your Monnify account today here. Mobility Ride-hailing drivers in South Africa threaten shutdown Image source: YungNolly Yesterday, ride-hailing drivers in South Africa threatened to shut down operations. What’s wrong? The ride-hailing drivers are demanding actions on safety issues like hijacking, illegal vehicle impoundment, and harassment from taxi drivers. They are also advocating for industry regulations and a decrease in companies’ “excessively high” commissions. Drivers do not have a say: Thato Ramaila, the Soweto United E-hailing Association Chairperson, alleges that ride-hailing companies enforce a “ridiculous” 30% commission on drivers’ earnings without negotiating with them. However, Vhatuka Mbelengwa, the Private Public Transport Association spokesperson, believes that while there might be a service reduction, a complete shutdown of ride-hailing apps is unlikely. Mbelengwa also underscores the probability of possible disruptions and advises South Africans who plan to use the apps to exercise caution. Zoom out: This isn’t the first time ride-hailing drivers have gone on strike in South Africa. In 2020, Uber and Bolt temporarily stopped operations due to high commission rates, which resulted in lower income and safety concerns for drivers. The drivers also went on several strikes between 2021 and 2022 to protest several issues including drivers’ safety after one young Bolt driver was murdered in Pretoria. Economy Nigeria’s inflation breaks its own ceiling It seems Nigeria’s inflation rate is staging its own “rise and shine” show. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Inflation Report for June 2023 reveals that the country’s headline inflation rate has soared to 22.79% year-on-year. This is a significant jump from the 18.60% recorded in June 2022. On a month-on-month basis, the figures rose to 2.13% from 1.94% in May 2023. Image source: Zikoko Memes Food takes the cake of inflation: In June 2023, food inflation reached a staggering 11.81%. Housing, water, electricity, and fuel are trailing behind it with a 3.81% increase, while clothing and footwear made a modest rise of 1.74%. Transport joined the party with a 1.48% surge, among other factors that added to the mix. Differing inflation among states: Lagos state stands out with the highest rate at 25.75%. Following closely behind are Ondo at 25.40% and Kogi at 25.23%. On the other hand, Borno exhibits a comparatively slower rate of 20.44%, while Zamfara and Ekiti record rates of 20.93% and 21.06% respectively. Zoom out: The inflation figures are breaking a 7-year record but experts think it could have been worse. Global Chief Economist, Renaissance Capital, Charles Robertson, notes that the inflation data is good news that inflation is only 22.8% YoY, despite the official FX rate devaluation from roughly NGN460/$ to closer to NGN800/$. GrowthCon 1.0: Learn how to unlock 10X Growth Connect with growth leaders, operators, and enablers to explore proven tactics for driving sustained business growth in Africa at GrowthCon 1.0. Experience curated masterclasses, case studies, a growth hackathon and more. Get your tickets here. Telecoms Telkom plans to sell its tower portfolio Image source: Telkom South Africa’s biggest Internet Service Provider (ISP), Telkom, has plans to sell its Swiftnet tower. Swiftnet, which owns more than 4,000 towers, houses the masts and towers portfolio and is expected to be sold within the next two months. Plans on investment: According to CEO Serame Taukobong, part of the money from the Swiftnet sale will contribute to the company’s “negative free cash flow” and allocate additional investment in capital expenditures (capex) for their fibre business. Taukobong also stated that Telkom’s tower portfolio has two solid bidders. Additionally, in February, Bloomberg reported that New York-listed IHS Holding was considering making
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Nigeria’s agent banking association will move ahead with price hike as fintechs consider legal action
Despite pushback from the CBN, fintech, and customers, PoS operators will implement a price hike this week. Will the business model survive the price increase? Every morning, Mrs Adetunji sells food at a shop in front of her house in the Agege area of Lagos. To drive traffic to her shop, she doubles as a PoS agent, allowing her neighbours, who live far away from bank ATMs, to withdraw money. She is one of the 1.5 million Nigerian agents that allow customers to access cash quickly. In a country where informal trade accounts for a significant part of GDP, cash is king. In the first quarter of 2023, a cash scarcity ended 31 months of growth in the private sector. Despite the importance of cash, there are not enough ATMs to meet Nigeria’s demand, and point-of-sale (PoS) agents step in to fill the gap. While there are less than 2,000 physical bank branches in Lagos, one of Nigeria’s busiest cities, there are over 320,000 banking agents. PoS agents are to Lagos what yellow taxis are to New York. There are 17 automated teller machines, 147 point-of-sale devices, and four bank branches for every 100,000 Nigerians, according to a 2022 Mckinsey report. Last month, the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMBAN) announced that they would increase the charges for withdrawing cash. Before the imminent increase, the charge for withdrawals below ₦5,000 was ₦100, but with the increase, it would double. The charges rise to ₦800 for ₦18,000 to ₦20,000. The increase also exceeds the official Central Bank of Nigeria’s recommended charge for PoS transactions (1%). Image Source: TechCabal Criticism from all parts Fintechs like Moniepoint, OPay, and PalmPay are some of the dominant players driving the agency banking business. On a call with TechCabal, Edidiong Uwemakpan, the global marketing head for Moniepoint, told TechCabal that the company was not consulted before the announcement. A Facebook post from the official OPay account said “any agent found overcharging will be blacklisted and may face legal consequences.” PalmPay told TechCabal that it was not informed of the decision made by AMMBAN. The fintechs all agree that the price increase contradicts the unique selling points of PoS operators—the ease of withdrawals and the cheap charges. Leveraging their ubiquity and large customer base, these fintechs are able to offer cheap charges on transactions to attract more customers and agents. But a hike in the price might change all that. Martin, a student based in Lagos, told TechCabal that he would rather spend time in lengthy ATM queues than pay the extra charges. His position is understandable, given Nigeria’s persistent inflation. While the removal of fuel subsidies has doubled the price of fuel, food prices are also at a 7-year high. Last week, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) barred PoS operators in Nigeria from increasing the PoS charges and threatened a sanction. If those sanctions go ahead, it may impact Nigeria’s financial inclusion drive. The agency banking model has been the most successful stab at banking the unbanked. In Taraba, there are only 20 bank branches but over 15,000 PoS agents. Anyone living in Taraba is more likely to bank with a fintech than a commercial bank. Image Source: The NigerianFinancial ServicesMarket by Intelpoint While Martin can afford to use an ATM in Lagos instead of paying the new charges, Nigerians in other states do not have the same luxury. Moji, a 72-year-old woman who lives in Akure, told TechCabal that she would still use her PoS agent because it takes her 2 hours and a ₦300 transport fare to withdraw money from the nearest bank. “I do not have a choice,” she said. This is not the first time that PoS agents have increased their prices. In Q1 2023, as Nigerians felt the pinch of the cash scarcity, PoS agents increased the price because the demand for Naira was greater than the supply, and they had to resort to unconventional ways to get cash, such as buying cash from fuel stations. Not all PoS agents are in support Unlike the last temporary price hike, this week’s price action is not driven by cash scarcity, and some PoS operators do not think the new rates are sensible. Most of the PoS agents that TechCabal spoke to rely on the charges as a secondary source of income, which is why they do not support the increase. Mrs Adetunji told TechCabal that she does not want to increase the charges for withdrawing money because she thinks it’s wrong to increase the price. “How would I explain to my neighbours that I want to increase the charges?” Image Source: The NigerianFinancial ServicesMarket by Intelpoint “I heard on the news that the association has increased the charges due to the current economic realities. But since I don’t belong to any associations, I still charge the normal withdrawal fees—₦100 for ₦5,000 and ₦200 for ₦10,000,” Shola Hafeez, a PoS operator in Ikorodu, a city in Lagos, told TechCabal. Mariam*, a PoS operator in Yaba, told TechCabal that while she has heard about the increase in the news, she does not know when it will take effect. She added that she does not take the increase seriously because she cannot force customers to patronise her and she does not rely on the PoS device for her income. When asked how the union will enforce the new prices, the national publicity secretary of the association, Elegbede Segun, told TechCabal that the implementation has kicked off. “The directive is that each state chapter should come up with its own pricing list that will reflect its realities. Since the implementation just started, we will be getting an update from the state chapters later today,” he told TechCabal. The law of demand and supply Agents are not employees of the fintechs that own the devices they use to transact, and as such, the fintechs have limited control over them. PalmPay told TechCabal that, while it does not support the
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Unraveling the pulse of Africa’s tech ecosystem: Q2 2023 trends
TechCabal Insights presents trends and events in African tech during the second quarter of the year: Sectoral funding, expansions, acquisitions, regulations, and more. In our analysis of trends and events in Q2 2023, we provide a glimpse into the major moves and the occasional rocky road in the African tech ecosystem. Let’s dig deep into the data, as we explore the highs and lows, the triumphs and challenges that defined the ecosystem during the recently-concluded quarter. Funding: A rollercoaster ride Image source: Ayomide Agbaje/TechCabal Insights Notably, venture funding reached $621.8 million in May from 34 announced deals—a 42% year-on-year increase from May 2022. This was driven by two mega deals: M-Kopa securing $255 million in a debt-and-equity financing round and SunKing’s $130 million securitisation deal. This was unlike the momentum in April and June which had deals amounting to $129.8 million from 23 announced deals and $126.2 million from 25 announced deals respectively. While the figures show a general slowdown in funding for African startups, the quarter still witnessed an impressive feat. A total of $877.8 million was raised across 220 startups, representing a 6.9% increase from Q1 2023. Although these numbers fall short of the $1.2 billion raised in the corresponding quarter of the previous year (Q2 2022) at a 23.63% decline. Image source: Ayomide Agbaje/TechCabal Insights Sectoral breakdown: Energy (cleantech) surpasses Fintech Startups operating in the energy, fintech, and logistics sectors emerged as the frontrunners in Q2 2023. Unlike previous quarters, fintech startups didn’t receive the largest share of VC funding. Energy-focused startups replaced them, raising $486.9 million, which accounted for 53% of the total funding in the quarter. Contrary to expectations, the funding landscape for African fintech in the previous quarter did not live up to the anticipated levels of success. For example, the number of fintech startups securing funding in June 2023 was quite limited, resulting in a subpar performance in terms of capital investment from venture capitalists, angel investors, and accelerators. It is noteworthy that, thus far, no African fintech startups have managed to secure mega-equity deals (exceeding $100 million) solely through debt funding and grants. Nigeria takes the lead In the race for venture funding, Nigeria sprinted ahead in Q2 2023, leaving other Africa’s Big 4 countries Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt on the trail. Nigerian startups secured $462.4 million, while Kenya followed with $149.3 million. South Africa and Egypt received $214 million and $6.1 million respectively, experiencing a decline from their previous quarter’s highs. Notably, Kenya’s rise this quarter can be attributed to the mega deals that local startups in the country closed, which played a significant role in toppling Egypt from its previous position. These figures further highlight the dynamic nature of the startup landscape in Africa, with each quarter bringing new opportunities and challenges for both startups and investors. Expansions: Broadening horizons Expansion is the name of the game as African startups seek to deepen their market presence to drive both operational and revenue growth. This previous quarter, TechCabal Insights tracked four noteworthy expansion moves, a similar figure to Q1 2023’s but a sharp drop from the eight tracked in Q2 2022. Nigerian auto-financing startup, Autochek, took a major leap forward by acquiring a majority stake in Egyptian startup, AutoTager, effectively expanding its footprint across nine African countries. Also, Ghanaian agri-tech startup Farmerline spread its wings into Francophone Africa, launching its operations in Ivory Coast. Ecosystem turbulence: Major moves and rocky events Fintech fraud and cybersecurity concerns In June, two South African companies witnessed cyberattacks. The first incident involved hackers gaining unauthorized access to MultiChoice’s streaming platform, Showmax, allegedly exposing more than 27,000 usernames and passwords. Meanwhile, Heritage Bank in Nigeria reported an insider hack worth ₦49 billion ($83 million) in customer funds. Also, Globus Bank, another Nigerian bank, disclosed a hack in 2022, in which hackers exploited a USSD glitch to withdraw over ₦1.75 billion ($2.9 million) from customer accounts. In Kenya, cybercriminals targeted Naivas, the country’s leading online retailer, with a ransomware attack, threatening to leak sensitive data. These incidents underscore the ongoing need for companies in the ecosystem to enhance their cybersecurity measures and address the ever-present risks of fraud. Shutdowns: Copia Global and Lazerpay bid farewell As Q2 2023 unfolded, the global trend of shutdowns also continued to make its mark in Africa’s tech ecosystem. Nigerian crypto startup, Lazerpay, announced its closure after struggling to secure the necessary funding. Meanwhile, Copia Global, a Kenyan e-commerce company, made the tough decision to shut down its Ugandan operations. These developments highlight the harsh realities of the tech business landscape, where even promising ventures on the continent face the pressures of sustainability. Layoffs: Shaking the African tech ecosystem In the ever-evolving African tech ecosystem, layoffs have become an unfortunate reality. What began with Swvl in May 2022 has continued to sweep across the continent, leaving a mark on some prominent startups. June witnessed a wave of layoffs as five African startups collectively laid off over 238 employees. Twiga, a Kenyan agritech company, made a “cost-cutting” move by laying off 211 employees, including its entire sales team. Nigeria’s fintech Eyowo, amidst a pivot to a D2C model, also had to let go of 13 employees. Similarly, Smile Identity, a KYC startup that raised $20 million in February 2023, had to reduce its workforce by 8 employees due to challenging macroeconomic conditions. Fintech giant Chipper Cash executed its third round of layoffs, though the exact number remains undisclosed. Also, sources revealed that Mara, a Web3 startup that raised $23 million in 2022, had to make the difficult decision to lay off six employees in May. Digital currencies by African countries During the last quarter, Zimbabwe embarked on a new chapter by launching its digital currency. However, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised concerns, cautioning that the gold-backed currency might not solve the country’s fiat currency devaluation problems and could deplete its gold reserves. Despite the criticism, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RSV) sold an impressive 14 billion Zimbabwean dollars’ worth of
Read MoreAfrican countries are making digital service tax for foreign companies a norm as Uganda joins the race
Uganda’s new law imposes a 5% income tax on non-resident companies offering digital services. Services covered include online advertising, data services, and online marketplaces. Major tech corporations like Meta and Netflix will be affected, joining Kenya and Nigeria in implementing similar taxes. Toward the end of March 2023, Uganda’s minister for finance, planning, and economic development presented the income tax (amendment) bill 2023 and the convention on mutual administrative assistance in tax matters (implementation) bill before parliament. The tax amendment bills cover key aspects such as income tax and VAT, among others, such as excise duty and lotteries and gaming. A section of the amendments proposed taxing non-residential companies that provide digital services to Ugandans. President Yoweri Museveni has signed the bills making them law, which means they will become effective soon. However, what do the new laws say and imply for foreign tech corporations operating in the country? Taxing foreign digital service providers The new law introduces an income tax of 5% on all non-resident individuals who earn income by providing digital services to customers within Uganda. The law specifies that a non-resident person is deemed to derive income from rendering services to a customer in Uganda if the digital service is delivered via the Internet, an electronic network, or an online platform. Within the scope of this legislation, “digital services” covers a range of services, including online advertising services, data services, and services facilitated through online marketplaces or intermediation platforms, such as accommodation, vehicle hire, and other transport-oriented platforms. Moreover, digital content services are also included, covering access to and downloading digital content, online gaming services, cloud computing services, and data warehousing. The bill encompasses other services provided through social media platforms or internet search engines. It allows for the potential inclusion of other digital services, subject to the minister of finance’s prescription through a statutory instrument issued under the income tax act cap 340. Which key companies will be affected? The new law has introduced a digital service tax (DST) on foreigners who offer online services like Meta, Netflix, Google, and others such as e-cab companies such as Bolt and Uber. However, how this proposed amendment will be implemented has not been discussed. Besides, it is unclear whether it will be implemented through withholding tax or requiring non-residents to file income tax returns. No exemptions have been mentioned for the final withholding tax of 15% on non-residents earning income under a Ugandan-source services contract when the DST is in effect. This implies that the effective tax rate reaches 20% if both measures are applied. The conflict may be addressed in a future amendment, but that has not been done for now. DST in Kenya and Nigeria Uganda now joins Kenya, which introduced DST under the Finance Bill 2020. The law saw the introduction of a digital tax at 1.5% of the gross transaction value. As a result, the tax was payable by individuals whose income from services and products was sourced within the state through the digital marketplace. The digital service tax was payable when transferring payment to service providers. It doubled to 3% in mid-2022. In 2022, Nigeria introduced a 6% digital services tax. At the same time, non-resident providers of digital services were required to collect VAT on their offerings. Like the Kenya and Uganda case, these digital services cover apps, high-frequency trading, electronic data storage, and online advertising. Foreign companies like Netflix and Meta, offering digital services, had to remit 6% of their annual turnover from their Nigerian business to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as per the regulation. Nigeria also separately introduced VAT on foreign digital services in January 2022.
Read MoreDriven by rising food prices, Nigeria’s June inflation hits 7-year high
Nigeria’s headline inflation increased to 22.79% in June, driven by a rise in the prices of food. According to the National Bureau of Statistics Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Inflation Report for June 2023, Nigeria’s headline inflation rate has increased to 22.79%, year-on-year from 18.60% recorded in June 2022. On a month-on-month basis, the figures rose 2.13% from 1.94% in May 2023 figures. Nigeria’s inflation rate continues its uptrend despite several monetary measures by the central bank to tame the rising rates. On a divisional level, inflation was majorly driven by food at 11.81%, followed by, housing, water, electricity and fuel (3.81%), clothing and footwear (1.74%), and transport (1.48%), amongst others. Food inflation was up by 25.25% on a year-on-year basis in June 2023; higher than the rate recorded in June 2022 (20.60%). Food inflation was driven by increases in the prices of oil and fat, bread and cereals, fish, potatoes, yam and fruits. States are not left out On a year-on-year basis, Lagos had the highest inflation rate (25.75%), followed by Ondo (25.40%), and Kogi (25.23%), while Borno (20.44%), Zamfara (20.93%) and Ekiti (21.06%) recorded the slowest rise in headline inflation. Global Chief Economist, Renaissance Capital, Charles Robertson, notes that the inflation data is good news, owing to the fact that the population is reeling from President Tinubu’s economic policies of the foreign exchange devaluation, and fuel subsidy removal. “Relatively good news from Nigeria’s inflation figure – with a rise to only 22.8% YoY, despite the official FX rate devaluation from roughly NGN460/$ to closer to NGN800/$. There could be more to come in July of course,” he tweeted.
Read MoreDespite public outcry, Kenya has received billions from recently introduced digital service tax
Kenya added digital economy taxes and collected $1.9B VAT revenue via electronic tax invoicing alone. The state also integrated betting firms into its tax collection systems, which has, so far, paid off. Kenya has been patching up tax leaks for a couple of months now. These changes have seen the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) meet and surpass targets after it recorded a 6.7% jump in the 2022/2023 financial year. KRA’s managed collection increased from KES 1.58 trillion ($23.2 billion) in the 2018/2019 financial year to KES 2.166 trillion ($32.2 billion) in the just concluded financial year ending in June 2023. These numbers imply that KRA added KES 586.259 billion ($8.9 billion) to its collection in the last half a decade. “Despite an economic slowdown occasioned by an unfavourable global fiscal environment, KRA recorded a revenue collection of KES 2.166 trillion for July 2022 – June 2023 compared to KES 2.031 trillion in the last financial year. The collection for the financial year 2022/2023 was, therefore, higher than what was collected in 2021/2022 by KES 135 billion,” said KRA in a statement. Digital revenue drivers Over the last few years, Kenya added new tax avenues, including taxing the digital economy amid complaints from locals. The state recently approved taxing crypto exchanges and social media influencers. However, the recent tax areas, which went live at the start of July 2023, will only be reported at the end of the 2023/2024 financial year. The previous government introduced a digital service tax (DST) alongside VAT on digital market supply. The legislation aimed to impose a 1.5% tax on the total value of digital services. Starting in January 2021, individuals earning income by offering services or products through online platforms were required to pay this tax. Furthermore, the law specified that both Kenyan residents and non-residents with permanent establishments in the country could utilise the tax amount as a deduction against their income liability for that particular year. And just last year, Kenya doubled DST to 3%. To this end, KRA collected KES 5.328 billion ($37.5 million) from the tax heads, translating to a growth of 207.9% compared to the previous financial year. KRA notified the public and all taxpayers registered for VAT about the transition from old electronic tax registers to the tax invoice management system (TIMs). According to the KRA, VAT-registered taxpayers had to obtain the new electronic registers before mid-2022. This shift aimed at enabling them to generate and electronically transmit tax invoices in accordance with the VAT (Electronic Tax Invoice) Regulations of 2022. The introduction of eTIMS also sought to reduce compliance costs by lowering hardware expenses and enhancing the accuracy of real-time invoice transmission, thus improving declaration and reconciliation between returns and payments. Notable features of eTIMS include cross-platform access (computers and mobile phones), a user-friendly and adaptable design, and a convenient solution for taxpayers to fulfil their compliance needs. Based on the development, with 95,732 VAT-registered taxpayers now using eTIMS, remittances have increased to KES 272.365 billion ($1.9 billion). The revenue performance outlook is expected to improve even more as eTIMS is widely adopted. eTIMS is set to simplify filing tax returns by providing pre-populated VAT returns. KRA has also reaped heavily from integrating its systems into betting companies’ systems. This integration has granted KRA up-to-date access to all the companies operating within the gaming and betting industry. As a result, the KRA collected KES 15.190 billion ($107 million) in excise duty and withholding tax after onboarding 28 taxpayers from the sector. Plans to tap more into the digital economy KRA plans to implement a technology platform to generate revenue by transforming it into a digitised revenue administration. This will be achieved by integrating with e-Citizen, other government agencies, and private entities for payroll taxes. It will also be achieved by simplifying the customs payment process through inclusion in M-Service and implementing a risk management system through AI.
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